Setting device for presettable counters having actuating keys



June 24, 1969 M. G. R. VOGEL ET AL 3,451,520

SETTING DEVICE FOR PRESETTABLE COUNTERS HAVING ACTUATING KEYS Filed July 27, 1967 Sheet of2 muavmps Manfred Georg Roland Vogg/ By 9 g 5 ATTDRNEYS June 24, 1969 M. G. R. VOGEL ET AL SETTING DEVICE FOR PRESETTABLE COUNTERS HAVING ACTUATING KEYS Sheet Filed July 27. 1967 Fig.8

L'AWURNEYS Manfred Georg Roland Voge/ 9 Hora? Pfe/fyer By W United States Patent Int. 01. G661: 15/18 US. Cl. 235-132 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A setting device for presettable counters having actuating keys and a resetting means, wherein the catches of the presetting keys do not engage the digit wheels when the keys are actuated without an'actuation of the resetting means so that an adjustment is prevented when the counter is ready for operation, accomplished by spring-loaded catches of the keys engaging a disabling bridge, swinging the catches out of the range of the stepping teeth of the digit wheels upon an actuation of the keys when the resetting means has not been actuated. The disabling bridge assembly is swung out of position by the resetting means upon actuation of the same so that the actuation of the keys then causes their catches to engage the stepping teeth of the digit wheels.

This invention relates to a setting device for presettable counters having actuating keys and a resetting means.

Presettable counters are known wherein the catches of the presetting keys do not engage the digit wheels when the keys are actuated without an actuation of the resettingmeans so that an adjustment is prevented when the counter is ready for operation. This object is accomplished by having the spring-loaded catches of the keys engage a disabling bar, which is swung out of position only upon actuation of the resetting means whereas the keys can be depressed without transmitting motion when the disabling bar has been swung into position. This design requires a special arrangement and cannot be applied to all systems. This disadvantage is to be eliminated by this invention.

To this end, the invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the spring-loaded catches of the keys engage a disabling bridge assembly, which swings the catches out of the range of the stepping teeth of the digit wheels upon an actuation of the keys when the resetting means has not been actuated, whereas the disabling bridge assembly is swung out of position by the resetting means upon actuation of the same so that the actuation of the keys then causes their catches to engage the stepping teeth of the digit wheels.

Vertically pivotally movable catches may be under the action of a ball detent for moving said catches into and out of a radial engagement with the stepping teeth of the digit wheels, and the pivotal movement may be performed in dependence on the position of the bridge assembly. Horizontally pivotally movable catches are adapted to be removed by the keys into and out of lateral engagement with the stepping teeth of the digit wheels and this pivotal movement of the catch is also effected in dependence on the position of the bridge assembly.

With catches cooperating with ball detents, a reversal is effected at the upper and lower dead centre of the key and the catch is held in the resulting position by the ball detent. During the return movement of the key, the catches will then not slip over the stepping teeth of the 3,451,620 Patented June 24, 1969 digit wheel. This will avoid the wear which has previously been encountered with slipping catches. With catches which are spring-loaded in a horizontal or axial position, the setting key may be disposed nearer to the digit wheels so that the space requirement may be further reduced.

Two embodiments of the setting device according to the invention will now be described by way of example on the drawing, in which:

FIGURES 1 and 2 show a first embodiment in FIG. 2 of which the keys of the setting device of the presettable counter have been actuated whereas the resetting means has not been actuated.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 when the keys of the setting device of the presettable counter as well as the resetting means have been actuated.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view partly sectional showing a part of the first embodiment in the position of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a second embodiment in FIG. 7 of which the keys of the setting device of the presettable counter have been actuated whereas the resetting means has not been actuated. V

FIG. 8 is a top plan view partly sectional showing a part of the second embodiment in the position of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 shows the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 when the keys of the setting device of the presettable counter as well as the resetting means have been actuated.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view partly sectional showing part of the second embodiment in the position of FIG. 9, and

FIGS. 11 and 12 are detail views showing a catch.

The drawing shows in FIGS. 1 to 5 the first embodiment comprising digit wheels 1 having stepping toothed discs 2, as well as a resetting lever 3, which is actuated and cooperates in known manner with cardioid cams 4. Presetting keys 5 are provided for presetting the digit wheels 1 by means of the stepping teeth on disc 2. Each key 5 I carries a vertically pivotally movable catch 6, which is movable into and out of radial engagement with the setting teeth on disc 2 under the action of a ball detent 7 and in dependence on the position of a bridge assembly 8. According to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the catches 6 engage the bridge 8 with a stop 9 when the resetting device is not actuated at the same time. The catches 6 are thus moved out of the range of the stepping teeth on disc 2. When the resetting lever 3 has been actuated, as is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the catches 6 adjust the digit wheels 1, as the stop 10 of the resetting lever 3 has moved the bridge 8 out of the range of the camming end of the catches 6. By the depression of the key 5, the zero-setting lever 3 has been swung against the zero-setting cam 4 of the digit wheel 1 so that the latter is reset to the initial count and is locked. A ratchet is provided in known manner in the digit wheel between that part which carries the zero-setting cams and that part which carries the digits and teeth. This ratchet permits of a slipping of the setting wheel relative to the parts which are looked as a result of the resetting operation.

The second embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 to 12 comprises also digit wheels 11 having stepping teeth on disc 12 and a resetting lever 13. The latter cooperates with a cardioid cam 14. The keys 15 for presetting the digit wheels 11 cooperate again with the stepping teeth on disc 12 and receive each a horizontally pivotally movable catch 16, which is movable into and out of lateral engagement with the stepping teeth 12 under the action of a torsion spring 17 and in dependence on the position of a bridge assembly 18. In FIGS. 6 to 8, the catches 16 are moved by cams 19 of the bridge assembly 18 out of the range of the stepping teeth on disc 12 because the resetting means has not been actuated at the same time.

When the resetting lever 13 is actuated; as is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the catches 16 adjust the digit wheels 11 because the bridge assembly 18 has been released from the stop 20 for the resetting lever 13 and is moved by the catches 16 out of the range of the camming ends thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A setting device for presettable counters comprising: a plurality of digit wheels rotatably mounted on a common shaft; each of said digit wheels having gear means afiixed thereto; a plurality of actuating keys, each of said keys having a spring loaded catch afiixed thereto; means for resetting said digit wheels; and a disabling bridge assembly engaging said spring loaded catches and engageable with said resetting means whereby upon actuation of said keys, when said resetting means has not been actuated, said disabling bridge assembly swings said spring loaded catches out of the range of said gear means, whereas the disabling bridge assembly is swung out of position by the resetting means upon actuation of the same so that the actuation of the keys then causes their spring-loaded catches to engage the gear means of said digit wheels.

2. A setting device according to claim 1, and further said bridge assembly being pivotally movable to pivot said catches out of engagement with said gear means upon actuation of said resetting means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES German printed applications: No. 1,207,119, Irion et al., Dec. 16, 1965, class 235, subclass 144, 1 sht. dwg., 2 pp. spec.; No. 1,207,120, Irion et al., Dec. 16, 1965, class 235, subclass 144, 1 sht. dwg., 2 pp. spec.; No. 1,208,922, Hopt, Jan. 13, 1966, class 235, subclass 144, 3 shts. dwg., 3 pp.'spec. I

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner,

S. A. WAL, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 23 5144 

